The government scheme to start a special geriatric care centre in Chennai will come through soon, Health Minister MRK Panneerselvam said on Tuesday. Speaking at a meeting after inaugurating a Geriatric Rehabilitation Block at Voluntary Health Services, in Chennai, Thiru Panneerselvam added that the Central scheme, evaluated at Rs. 120 crore, will come to fruition within a few months.

The need for schemes and programmes to help the aged, specifically those who are poor and disabled, is becoming more and more felt. He congratulated the VHS for setting up a facility to take care of the rehabilitation needs of the aged and the Inner Wheel Club of Madras South for having financed the building. VHS was among the private not-for-profit healthcare institutions receiving grants from the government, he added.

Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, president, Thiru E.S.Krishnamoorthy, honorary secretary, Tmt. Lakshmi Vijayakumar, head, Department of Psychiatry, Pallavi Shah, president, International IWC, Tmt. Vijaya Thayanban, past president, IWC Madras South, Manjula Pragasam, president, IWC Madras South, Kala Ravichandran, district chairman, Inner Wheel District 323, and S.Janaki, medical superintendent, VHS, offered felicitations.